Download Human Potential?

■Essential Question:
–What was the Renaissance?
–What factors led to the rise of the
Renaissance?
Western Europe emerged from the Middle Ages
I. The
Renaissance
during an
era known
as the Renaissance
From 1300 to 1600,
Western Europe
experienced a “rebirth”
in trade, learning, &
Greco-Roman ideas
During the Renaissance,
Europeans developed
new ideas in art, gov’t,
& human potential
The Renaissance was a revival of learning based on
knowledge from Classical Greece & Rome. This
intellectual change has resulted in the Renaissance being
viewed as a bridge between the Middle Ages and the
Modern era.
What changed during the Middle Ages
that gave rise to the Renaissance?
Trade & Cities?
Government?
Religion?
Human Potential?
Think…What was trade like during the Middle
Ages?
During the Middle Ages, trade was limited
to the manor. Very little if any exchanges
between manors existed. Think selfsufficient
II. Trade & Cities during the Renaissance
The Crusades increased
European demand for
luxury goods from Asia
Italian merchants began
meeting the demand for
trade in Europe
As a result, Italian cities
& a wealthy middle class
began to form in Italy
The most important
Italian city was Florence,
where wealth from trade
sparked the Renaissance
In addition, the fact that Italians could look at
the middle
ruins ofclass
the Roman
Empire
for inspiration,
A new
of
The Medici
family were
bankers,
& perfect
wealthy
bankers
who used
it merchants,
made for the
location
for the
skilled craftsmen Renaissance.
their wealth to buy art
gained lots of power
(Patrons)
Think…What changed during the Middle
Ages that gave rise to the Renaissance?
Trade & Cities?
Government?
Religion?
Human Potential?
Think…What was government like in the Middle Ages?
During the Middle Ages, government was
not centralized and therefore there was no
peace and no stability
III. Government During the Renaissance
Kings were able to tax merchants & use their
wealth to build armies & strong nations which
hurt the power of the feudal lords
From 1337 to 1453,
England & France
began a conflict
called the
Hundred Years War
During the war,
nationalism
increased as
people became
loyal to their king
& nation, rather
than their lord
During the Hundred Years War, new military weapons
decreased the power of feudal lords & knights
The discovery of
Chinese gunpowder led
to the development of
cannons which helped
armies penetrate castles
The invention of the longbow allowed soldiers to
shoot accurately up to 300 yards which decreased
the importance of knights on horseback
Think…What changed during the Middle
Ages that gave rise to the Renaissance?
Trade & Cities?
Government?
Religion?
Human Potential?
Think…What was religion like in the Middle Ages?
The heavy reliance
on religion gave
way to the term
“Age of Faith”
During the Middle Ages, the only accepted
religion in Europe was Roman Catholicism.
The church was the only institution that
provided stability.
IV. Religion during the Renaissance
In the late Middle Ages, the Pope & the Catholic
Church lost some of its influence as a result of the
losses to Muslim armies during the Crusades
Despite having less influence, the Catholic Church
was still an important part of peoples’ lives &
the Pope remained important
Think…What changed during the Middle
Ages that gave rise to the Renaissance?
Trade & Cities?
Government?
Religion?
Human Potential?
Think…What were common people expected to
do during the Middle Ages?
During the Middle Ages, most people were
peasants. A hard life was lived where daily
duties revolved around farming the manor.
During the Middle Ages, peasants did not own land
& had no options other than remaining loyal to a
feudal lord & work within the manorial system
As peasants
left during
the manor
to seek new gave
job
The
rise of trade
the Renaissance
opportunities,
manor
systems
people
optionsthe
to leave
the
manorweakened
& move to
because
were
to do the
was a
cities tofew
serve
asleft
merchants
orwork.
skilledThis
artisans
key factor behind the end to the feudal system.
V. The Plague
Another reason for the decline of the manorial
system was the plague, known as the Black Death
In 1347, a trade ship
arrived in Italy carrying
plague-infested rats
The plague swept quickly
throughout Europe along
trade routes
The Black Death
The plague killed 25 million people in 5 years
(1/3 of Europe’s population)
The plague caused a labor shortage; those that
survived could demand higher wages & more rights
VI. Life during the Renaissance
For those that survived the plague years, a greater
desire to celebrate and enjoy life led
people to believe that they should try new things
Individuals became the center of attention
during the Renaissance
Social status was
based on wealth &
ability, not birthright
A new way of
thinking began during
the Renaissance
called Humanism
Humanists studied the “classical”
ideas of Greece & Rome &
believed that individual human
achievements should be
celebrated
What was expected of men & women
in the Renaissance?
The “ideal man” was well
educated, smart, can dance,
write poetry, & play music;
(called a “Renaissance Man”)
The “ideal woman” should
have the same qualities as
men but should not seek fame
or political power
(Renaissance women were
better educated but had fewer
rights than medieval women)